Adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly

ABSTRACT

A seat back cover/tray assembly attaches to a seat back of an automotive vehicle, and includes a frame supported for up and down movement on a pair of tracks secured to the seat back. A second pair of tracks are hinged to the frame for pivotal movement from a horizontal position extending rearwardly from the frame to a collapsed position. A tray is mounted on the second pair of tracks for sliding movement from a forward retracted position rearwardly to an extended position. Links support the second pair of tracks selectively in the horizontal position and in the collapsed position. A frame lock locks the frame in selected positions. The tray provides a cover concealing the frame, the tracks, the links and the frame lock when the frame is up, the links are collapsed, and the tray is retracted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to trays for use in automotive vehicles and more particularly to an adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trays secured to the backs of seats in automotive vehicles are not generally known. Such trays as do exist are not fully adjustable. Moreover they do not present a clean attractive appearance when not in use. What is needed is a tray which is fully adjustable, closes neatly, and otherwise overcomes the shortcomings of trays now in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly is provided which is attachable to a seat back in an automotive vehicle. The cover/tray assembly includes a frame, and a guide adapted to be secured to the seat back to support the frame for generally up and down movement. A second guide is hinged to the frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis from a generally horizontal first position extending rearwardly from the frame to a collapsed or stored position overlying the frame. A tray is mounted on the second guide for sliding movement from a forward, retracted position closely adjacent to the pivot axis rearwardly to an extended position more remote from the pivot axis. A collapsible guide support is provided for supporting the second guide selectively in the generally horizontal position and in the collapsed position. A frame lock is provided for releasably locking the frame in selected positions of up and down adjustment along the first guide. The tray provides a cover substantially concealing the frame and also concealing the first guide, the second guide, the guide support and the frame lock when the frame is in the up position, the guide support is in the collapsed position, and the tray is in the retracted position.

One object of this invention is to provide an adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly having one or more of the foregoing features and capabilities.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly mounted on the rear surface of a seat back in an automotive vehicle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tray in a rearwardly extended position of use, with the frame supporting the tray in a lowered position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the linkage supporting the tray in a horizontal position of use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tray rearwardly extended while in the horizontal position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, but shows the tray being tilted downwardly towards a stored or collapsed position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in FIG. 4 and showing a lock pin for operating the frame lock;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 3, showing the lock pin in the engaged position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the lock pin in the released position; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a front seat 10 having a generally upright seat back 12, and an adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly 14 secured to the rear surface of the seat back.

The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly 14 includes a frame 16 which is mounted on a guide 18 for up and down movement relative to the seat back between an up position shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5 and a selected lower position shown in FIG. 2. The guide 18 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart, parallel tracks 20 and 22 which are channel-shaped and which are secured to the rear surface of the seat back 12. The frame has a pair of parallel channel-shaped rails 24 and 26 laterally spaced apart the same distance as the tracks 20 and 22 and slidable up and down on the respective tracks. Each rail has inturned flanges 28 which extend into grooves 30 in the sides of the tracks to prevent separation of the frame from the tracks.

A second guide 32 on the frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced apart, parallel tracks 34 and 36 which are channel-shaped and hinged to an upper edge portion of the frame by horizontally aligned pivot pins 38 and 40. The tracks 34 and 36 are pivotally movable about a pivot axis established by the pins 38 and 40 from a generally horizontal position extending rearwardly from the frame shown in FIG. 2 to a collapsed or generally vertical position shown in FIG. 1.

A generally flat tray 42 is mounted on the second guide 32 for sliding movement from a forward, retracted position closely adjacent to the pivot axis of the pivot pins 38 and 40 shown in FIG. 3, rearwardly to an extended position more remote from the pivot axis shown in FIG. 2. The tray has a pair of parallel rails 48 and 50 which are channel-shaped and spaced apart the same distance as the tracks 34 and 36. The rails 48 and 50 extend over the respective tracks 34 and 36 and each rail has inturned flanges 52 which extend into grooves in the sides of the tracks to prevent separation of the tray from the tracks.

A collapsible guide support 56 is provided for supporting the second guide 32 and the tray 42 mounted thereon selectively in a generally horizontal position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and in a collapsed position shown in FIG. 1. The guide support comprises linkages 60 and 62. Each linkage includes a link 64 and a link 66. The adjacent inner ends of the links are pivoted to one another at 68. The link 64 has an outer end pivoted at 70 to a lower portion of the frame 16. The link 66 has an outer end pivoted at 72 to one of the tracks 34, 36.

When the guide 32 is in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 3, it is retained in that horizontal position by the linkages 60 and 62. The linkages are held from collapsing by the tabs 76 on the inner ends of the links 64 engaging the inner ends of the links 66.

When the tracks 34 and 36 of the guide 32 are in the collapsed position of FIG. 1, the linkage 60 fits within the channel-shaped track 34 and the linkage 62 fits within the channel-shaped track 36. See FIG. 9.

A frame lock 80 is provided to releasably lock the frame 16 in selected positions of up and down adjustment along the tracks 20 and 22. See FIGS. 7 and 8. The frame lock 80 includes a lock track in the form of an elongated generally vertical channel 82 secured to the rear surface of the seat back 12 midway between and parallel to the tracks 20 and 22. The frame 16 is provided with inturned flanges 86 extending into grooves 88 in the sides of the channel 82 to guide the frame along the channel. A series of detents in the form of holes 90 are spaced apart along the length of the channel 82. The frame 16 has an internally threaded boss 94 which slides along the channel 82. A lock pin 96 carried by the frame 16 has a threaded shank 98 which threads into the boss 94. The lock pin has an enlarged head 100 by means of which the lock pin may be rotated to advance it into the boss 94 and cause a stud 102 on the end of the shank 98 to enter one of the holes 90 in the channel 82 and thereby lock the frame 16 in a selected position of up and down adjustment along the tracks 20 and 22. To change the adjusted position of the frame 16, the lock pin 96 is first reverse rotated to retract the stud 102.

When the frame 16 is in the up position with the linkages 60 and 62 folded or collapsed and the tray 42 is in the retracted position as in FIG. 1, the tray provides a cover concealing the frame 16, the guide 18 including the tracks 20 and 22, the second guide 32 including the tracks 34 and 36, the linkages 60 and 62 and the frame lock 80.

A storage unit 110 is provided to store loose articles. The storage unit 110 has a flat pouch 112 secured to the rear surface of the seat back 12 beneath the tracks 20 and 22. The pouch 110 has hooks 114 which may be used to hang purses and grocer bags, for example. The pouch 110 also has an open top storage bin 116 that is pivoted to a lower edge of an opening in the pouch so that the storage bin may be pivoted outwardly for inserting or removing articles or it may be closed by pivoting it inwardly where it is flush with the outer surface of the pouch 112 as in FIG. 1. The storage bin 116 may be used for a variety of different articles such as calculators, computers, crayons, etc.

The flat pouch 112, with the storage bin 116 closed, together with the tray 42 in the stored position shown in FIG. 1, provides a flat compact assembly which is neat in appearance and which is out of the way and does not interfere with persons entering or leaving the seating area behind in seat 12.

A person occupying a seat 118 behind the seat 10 having the adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly 14 can very easily raise the guide 32 to the horizontal position, move the tray 42 rearwardly or forwardly, move the frame 16 up or down and lock the frame in the desired position. It is just as easy to return the tray to the stored position of FIG. 1.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly for attachment to a seat back of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a frame, a first guide adapted to be secured to the seat back to support the frame for generally up and down movement relative to the seat back between an up position and a down position, a second guide hinged to the frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal pivot axis from a generally horizontal position extending rearwardly from the frame to a collapsed position overlying the frame, a tray mounted on the second guide for sliding movement from a forward retracted position closely adjacent to said pivot axis rearwardly to an extended position more remote from said pivot axis, a collapsible guide support for supporting said second guide selectively in said generally horizontal position and in said collapsed position, and a frame lock for releasably locking said frame in selected positions of up and down adjustment along said first guide, said tray providing a cover substantially concealing said frame, said first guide, said second guide, said guide support and said frame lock when said frame is in the up position, said guide support is in the collapsed position, and said tray is in the retracted position.
 2. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said first guide comprises parallel laterally spaced apart tracks, and rails on said frame in sliding engagement with the respective tracks.
 3. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said second guide comprises parallel laterally spaced apart tracks, and rails on said tray in sliding engagement with the respective tracks.
 4. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said guide support includes a linkage having pivotably connected links, one of said links pivoted to said frame and another of said links pivoted to the second guide.
 5. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 1, wherein first guide comprises parallel laterally spaced apart first tracks, first rails on said frame in sliding engagement with said first tracks, said second guide comprises parallel laterally spaced apart second tracks, and second rails on said tray in sliding engagement with said second tracks.
 6. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 5, wherein said frame lock comprises an elongated lock track between and generally parallel to said first tracks, a series of detents in said lock track spaced apart along the length of said lock track, and a lock pin carried by said frame for locking engagement in a selected one of the detents.
 7. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 5, further including a storage unit which is beneath said tray when the guide support is in the collapsed position and the tray is in the retracted position, said storage unit having a storage bin for articles to be stored.
 8. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 5, wherein said second tracks are channel-shaped, said guide support includes first and second linkages, said first linkage being disposed within one of said second tracks when said second guide is in the collapsed position overlying said frame, said second linkage being disposed within another of said second tracks when said second guide is in the collapsed position overlying said frame.
 9. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 8, wherein said first linkage has pivotally connected first links, one of which is pivoted to said frame and another of which is pivoted to one of said second tracks, and said second linkage has pivotally connected second links, one of which is pivoted to said frame and another of which is pivotally connected to another of said second tracks.
 10. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 9, wherein said frame lock comprises an elongated lock track between and generally parallel to said first tracks, a series of detents in said lock track spaced apart along the length of said lock track, and a lock pin carried by said frame for locking engagement in a selected one of the detents.
 11. The adjustable seat back cover/tray assembly of claim 10, further including a storage unit beneath said tray when the guide support is in the collapsed position and the tray is in the retracted position, said storage unit having an open top storage bin for articles to be stored, said storage bin being pivotable between an open position and a closed position. 